Champions of England 38 times and Europe eight times between them; over 75,000 watching at Old Trafford, and millions watching around the world. It doesn't get much bigger than Manchester United against Liverpool.

Jose Mourinho's side are eyeing a 10th consecutive win which would put them within two points of Liverpool, and their chances of success could rest on the battle between Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Dejan Lovren.

Ibrahimovic is a big-game performer. He scored 11 goals in 10 games for Paris Saint-Germain against their great rivals Marseille, he scored the winner for Barcelona in his only El Clasicoappearance, and he scored six goals in the Milan derby.

United's problem under Mourinho has been taking their chances. Despite their upturn in form they still have one of the lowest shot conversion rates in the Premier League, scoring from just 12 per cent of their shots.

Lowest shot conversion rates - Premier League 2016/17

Team

Shot conversion rate

League position

Southampton

8.9%

10th

Hull

10.2%

20th

West Ham

11.8%

13th

Man Utd

12.3%

6th

Swansea

12.6%

19th

That figure is due in part to Ibrahimovic's early struggles. In the first three months of the season, the striker had the worst shot conversion rate of any forward to have scored three or more goals.

Since November, though, Ibrahimovic has scored nine Premier League goals - more than anyone else in that period - and enjoyed one of the league's best conversion rates.

Best shot conversion rates by forwards since November (min. 3 goals)

Player

Shot conversion rate

Goals

Callum Wilson

37.5%

3

Fernando Llorente

33.3%

5

Divock Origi

33.3%

4

Zlatan Ibrahimovic

31.0%

9

Jamie Vardy

27.3%

3

Lovren will be the man charged with stopping Ibrahimovic at Old Trafford. The pair have collided before - quite literally in 2012, when Ibrahimovic was accused of stamping on Lovren's head in a match between PSG and Lyon.

The Croatian has been Liverpool's mainstay at centre-back this season, making the most headed clearances (62) and interceptions (29) of all the club's defenders.

Defender Dejan Lovren has featured prominently for Liverpool this season

Jurgen Klopp has transformed Liverpool into big-game performers themselves. During Klopp's reign Liverpool have won at Chelsea twice, beaten Manchester City in all three of their league games, and beaten Arsenal 4-3 at the Emirates.

If they win on Sunday they'll be the first team in the Premier League era to win at United, Arsenal and Chelsea in the same season.

Sky Sports Vault | Liverpool 0-1 Man Utd

If United's problem is putting chances away, Liverpool's is keeping them out. Despite facing the fewest shots of any Premier League team, Liverpool have conceded 23 goals - the most of any top-six side. Only Swansea concede a higher proportion of shots faced.

Highest proportion of shots faced - Premier League 2016/17

Team

Shots faced

Goals conceded

% conceded

Swansea

290

45

15.5%

Liverpool

156

23

14.7%

Crystal Palace

280

37

13.2%

Man City

169

22

13.0%

Watford

278

36

13.0%

Ibrahimovic has taken 63 shots in the Premier League this season - eight more than any other player. The Swede doesn't exactly lack confidence even when he's not in form, so he'll back himself on Sunday if a chance does come his way. It's crucial Lovren stops that from happening.

In 2008/09, Lovren was sent off when playing for Dinamo Zagreb in Croatia's biggest game - the Eternal Derby against Hajduk Split - and the following season he scored an own-goal in the same fixture. When two of England's greatest clubs meet on Sunday, he'll need better luck.